The Global Tree Archive is a permanent digital record. Whether you planted it today or have a favorite mature tree, give it an identity. It takes less than a minute and is Free.
New Life
🌱
I Just Planted A New Tree
Start a Legacy. This is Day Zero. Register your sapling now to lock its planting date, species, and your "Message in a Bottle" to the future.
Living History
🌳
I Want to Tag A Mature Tree
It’s Not Too Late. This tree could live another 500 years. Don't let its story stay blank. Tag it today to ensure the future knows it was here.
*All registrations receive a permanent "Certificate of Life" locked to that GPS location.
Certificate of Planting
The Green Pins Archive
Adelaide, Australia
This certifies that the tree known as
English Oak
Lat: 53.500000° Long: -8.500000°
Planted: 24 Oct 2025
Planted to mark the beginning of our new garden.
No. 001042
Martin D.
Planter
24 Oct 2025
Minted
www.thegreenpins.com
Why We Tag New Trees
🤔 The Problem
"The story of why you planted it (starting a garden, a birth, an empty space, a memorial) dies with the planter."
🍾
Message in a Bottle
Write a letter to the future. Your name and story are locked to the tree you just planted.
🤔 The Problem
"We often feel like we aren't doing enough for the planet."
🌍
Visual Proof
Seeing your pin on the global map is proof you did your bit. You aren't working in isolation.
🤔 The Problem
"People walk past trees as if they are just background greenery."
📇
Name the Unknown
Giving a tree a name turns "greenery" into a recognized life. It gives the tree a story.
Why We Tag Giants
🤔 The Problem
"Scientists can't use data they don't have."
📋
Citizen Science
You become a field researcher. Your data will help scientists of the future.
🤔 The Problem
"We walk past ancient trees without noticing them. We don't realize what we are missing."
🗺️
Treasure Hunting
Our map is like geocaching for nature. Find the giants and protect what you love.
🤔 The Problem
"Old trees are often cut down because no one knows their history."
🛡️
Guardian of History
By tagging a mature tree, you give it a voice. You signal to the world that this tree is watched and valued.
How It Works
Follow these three steps to lock your tree to the map forever.
1
Snap
Take a verified photo of your tree directly from your phone browser.
2
Tag
Add the name, date, and your "Message in a Bottle" story.
3
Pin
Lock it to the Global Map. Receive your permanent digital legacy certificate.
Join the Green Pins Community
The Green Pins is for the people who look out for those who haven't been born yet. It’s for the kids and grandkids who will one day walk where you walked. Show them who tried their best. Show them you were here.
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New Trees
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Mature Trees
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Fallen Trees
Why We Pin
With a deep, lifelong passion for nature and wildlife, I believe that most tree-planters are forgotten heroes. We created The Green Pins so that never happens again.
The platform is a global digital archive and a living time capsule. When you pin a tree, you aren’t just uploading data; you are writing a letter to the future. Our goal is that one day, the people of the future can open this map and know exactly who planted the mighty trees providing shade in their very own backyards.
Building this permanent archive is our crucial first step, but it is just the beginning of a much larger vision for global environmental stewardship.
A Note from the Founder
The inspiration for The Green Pins came from a simple moments of wonder. I have often found myself under a tree seeking shade from the sun or shelter from the rain, wondering about the hands that planted it.
Did they imagine I would be here today? Were they planting it for themselves, or for a stranger fifty years in the future?
It struck me that every tree is a gift to the future, but the giver is usually forgotten. I started The Green Pins to make this connection possible—to know who actually planted that tree in your back garden. My goal is to encourage people to leave a mark that lasts for generations, providing sanctuary for wildlife and nature along the way.
- Martin Walsh Founder, The Green Pins
Support The Green Pins
The Green Pins is a free, community-driven archive. We rely on people like you to keep the servers running and the global map growing. Here is how you can help secure the legacy of millions of trees.
Keep the Archive Online
High-resolution photo storage, global mapping APIs, and secure servers cost money. For less than the price of a coffee, you can directly fund the infrastructure that keeps these stories alive for the next generation.
Secure payment via Stripe. 100% of funds go toward hosting and development.
More Ways to Grow the Movement
📢
Share Your Forest
Every time you share your Certificate of Life on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, you inspire someone else to plant or pin a tree. Word-of-mouth is our strongest fertilizer.
🗺️
Map Your Neighborhood
Become a local Citizen Scientist. Take a 30-minute walk and pin the oldest, most significant mature trees in your local park. Scientist will use this data in the future.
🤝
Involve Your Community
Introduce The Green Pins to local schools, scout troops, or gardening clubs. Using the app is a fantastic outdoor educational activity for kids and community groups.
Register Tree Now
What are you pinning today?
🌱
New Tree
🌳
Mature Tree
Ensure you are standing next to your tree when pinning its location. We encourage you to be in the photo for the people of the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Basics
1. What is The Green Pins?
The Green Pins is a global digital registry that gives every human planted tree a “birth certificate" (or certificate of life if not planted by a person) and a permanent location on the map, helping you document and celebrate trees for generations.
2. Is it free?
Yes! Pinning a tree and creating a certificate is completely free.
3. Do I need an app?
No. The Green Pins uses a web app, so you can access it directly from your browser—no downloads required.
4. Why should I pin a tree?
Pinning a tree preserves its story, location, and history forever. It also:
Contributes to Citizen Science and environmental data
Supports wildlife and nature
Encourages community members and neighbors to plant more trees
Makes tree-planting fun for planters and future generations
Promotes being in nature and connecting with the environment
Our "Forever" Guarantee
5. What if The Green Pins closes down?
Tree Data (Certificate, Photos, Story, Location) will be released as public open-source data to preserve its legacy. Private User Data (email, password) will be permanently deleted.
6. How is my data kept safe?
We use distributed cloud storage with redundant backups. Tree data is treated as a permanent historical archive, not just website content.
7. Can I download my data?
Yes. Certificates and GPS logs can be exported anytime via your Dashboard.
Pinning & Planting
8. Can I pin an old tree?
Yes! “Retro-pinning” or favorite tree pinning is encouraged. Stand next to the tree to get the most accurate GPS lock. Accuracy depends on your device.
9. Can I pin a tree I didn’t plant?
Yes, you can pin mature trees anywhere you have permission, including public spaces. For young trees, we prefer you are present on the day of planting and have permission to do so. Always act as a responsible guardian for the tree.
10. What location system do you use?
We use standard Latitude and Longitude coordinates recorded to six decimal places for high precision.
11. Can I pin indoor plants?
No. The Green Pins is for outdoor trees that contribute to the ecosystem. Long-term bonsai are fine for fun.
12. Can I pin smaller plants?
No. The Green Pins is for larger trees only.
13. Can I update the photo later?
Yes! Add “Growth Milestones” over time. We encourage planters to be present in the photo, because a photo says 1000 words and makes the story more interesting for people in the future.
14. Can I pin in a public park?
Yes, for mature trees. You cannot plant trees in public parks without permission. Always follow local rules.
15. What if the tree dies?
You can update its status to “Fallen.” The record remains as a historical testament.
16. Is The Green Pins safe for food foraging purposes?
No. Tree identification is for educational, ecological, and historical purposes only. Do not rely on the platform for food, medicinal, or consumption decisions.
Privacy & Data
17. Can I pin anonymously?
Yes. You can choose a display name or “Guardian” instead of your real name. However, we encourage planters to appear in the photo—it makes the story richer for future viewers.
18. Is my tree’s exact location public?
Yes. The goal is a global map. Use the “Private Land” label if you do not want visitors.
19. Can I delete my account?
Yes. You can Permanently delete all your data Or “Orphan” your trees (leave the tree record on the map anonymously).
20. Does it work offline?
You need an internet connection to load the map, but photos can be taken offline. GPS location works best when your device is near the actual tree trunk.
21. Are my Certificates and Stories public?
Yes. Think of your Certificate like a bronze plaque in a park—it is meant to be seen and shared. Avoid including personal information like phone numbers.
Community & Impact
22. Can schools use this?
Yes! The Green Pins is great for educational projects, but all student accounts must be created and supervised by teachers or adult guardians. Teachers or guardians are responsible for student activity and compliance with the Terms.
23. Is this good for kids?
Yes! It is a fun scavenger hunt that gets them outdoors even if they still have a phone in hand. However, use must be supervised by a parent at all times.
24. Can I share my certificate on social media?
Yes! Certificates are designed to be shareable on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.
25. Who owns the data?
You own your photos and stories. We hold the license to display them on the registry.
26. How do you verify trees?
Community verification helps ensure accuracy. Users can “Verify” trees they have seen to build trust.
27. Can I edit a pin?
Yes. You can update all aspects of a pin—including species, height, and photos—anytime via your Dashboard.
28. Is The Green Pins a non-profit?
We are a social enterprise dedicated to environmental impact.
ℹ️ Crowd-Sourced Data Disclaimer: While we provide the tools for recording, botanical accuracy is user-reported. Use as a general guide.
Join the Green Pins Community
The Green Pins is for the people who look out for those who haven't been born yet. It’s for the kids and grandkids who will one day walk where you walked. Show them who tried their best. Show them you were here.
Generate HD JPEGs and a metadata CSV for your archives.
📋 Bulk User Export
Download user names and email addresses from Accounts and Tree Alert sign-ups as CSV.
Welcome, User
Mossling Spark
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Planted
0
Reg.
0
Total
0
Fallen
Your Planted Trees
Certificate of Planting
The Green Pins Archive
Adelaide, Australia
Tree Name
Lat: 0.000000° Long: 0.000000°
Planted:
No. 000000
Martin D.
Planter
Date
Minted
www.thegreenpins.com
👍 Verified by 3 Citizens
Share this Certificate:
The Tree's Journey
Danger Zone
Orphan: Removes your name, but keeps the tree on the map anonymously (Recommended for environmental record). Delete: Permanently destroys the record to comply with your right to be forgotten.
Edit Tree Details
Leave empty to keep current photo.
Current: Unchanged
🔍
Add Growth Update
Edit Profile
Reset Password
Enter your email address and we'll send you a link to reset your password.
Update Password
🔒
Unlock this Tree's Story
You need to be a logged-in Guardian to view the full history, photos, and certificate for this tree.
Almost Done!
Step 2: Pin Tree Location
Tap the map or search to place a pin on your tree's location.
🔍
This date will appear on the certificate.
You can change this for each tree (e.g. if planting for a child).
This safety badge will be shown on the public profile.
ℹ️ Note: This Story and Tree Name will be visible on the public certificate. Please do not include private contact details.
If filled, this will appear on the certificate.
Create Guardian Account
An account allows you to update your tree's progress.
Visible on Certificate as 'Planter'.
✓
Legacy Locked.
Your tree is now part of the global archive.
🛡
The Green Pins is free, but keeping history online isn't.
We don't run ads or sell your data. A one-time $5 contribution covers the secure cloud hosting needed to ensure your tree's story is never deleted and remains on the global map for the next generation.
Be the first to know when a tree is pinned near you.
🌳
Ready to Lock a Legacy?
You are about to create a permanent digital record for a tree.
📸
1. Snap a PhotoWe verify the tree exists.
📍
2. Pin the LocationWe lock its exact coordinates.
Guardian Levels
Earn badges by planting trees with a known date. (Trees with 'Unknown Date' do not count towards levels).
Terms & Conditions
Last Updated: February 2026
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using The Green Pins website and related services (“Service”), you agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions (“Terms”). If you do not agree, you must not use the Service.
2. Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years of age to create an account on your own. Minors under 18 may use the Service only with the explicit consent and under the constant supervision of a parent or legal guardian. The parent or guardian agrees to be bound by these Terms and accepts full responsibility for the minor's unauthorized use.
3. Description of Service
The Green Pins is a public digital registry that allows users to upload, document, and map trees, including photos, GPS coordinates, and related information. Tree records are public by default.
4. Public Nature of Location Data
By pinning a tree, you acknowledge and agree that:
The tree’s GPS coordinates will be publicly visible.
Other users may attempt to visit the location.
We do not verify property ownership or land access rights.
You must not pin trees on private property without permission.
You assume all risks associated with sharing location data.
5. Personal Safety & Assumption of Risk
The Service is informational only. Outdoor environments involve inherent risks (terrain, wildlife, weather). The Green Pins does not inspect, verify, or guarantee the safety of any location. You access and visit any mapped location entirely at your own risk. We are not responsible for injury, loss, damage, trespass, or any other harm arising from use of the Service.
6. Botanical & Identification Disclaimer
All species identification and ecological information is user-generated and may be inaccurate. The Service is not intended for food foraging, medicinal use, legal compliance, or carbon offset certification. Do not rely on the Service for professional, scientific, medical, or legal decisions.
7. User Responsibilities
You agree NOT to:
Post illegal, harmful, defamatory, obscene, or infringing content.
Upload copyrighted material without permission.
Trespass on private property or falsify GPS coordinates.
Use automated bots, crawlers, or scraping tools to extract data.
Reproduce or commercially exploit tree location data without written permission.
8. Accounts & Security
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity under your account. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.
9. Intellectual Property
Website Content: All website design, branding, and code are owned by The Green Pins.
User Content: You retain ownership of your uploaded photos and stories. By uploading, you grant The Green Pins a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, transferable, and sublicensable license to use, reproduce, display, and distribute such content in connection with the Service.
10. Data Use Restrictions
Tree location data may not be bulk-downloaded, scraped, republished, or used to create competing services without prior written consent. Public visibility does not grant rights to commercial reuse.
11. Third-Party Services
The Service may integrate third-party providers (e.g., mapping tools, cloud hosting, payment processors). We are not responsible for the content or practices of third-party services.
12. Disclaimer of Warranties
The Service is provided “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE.” We make no warranties regarding accuracy of GPS data, botanical correctness, service availability, or data preservation. All implied warranties are disclaimed to the fullest extent permitted by law.
13. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, The Green Pins shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages; loss of data, profits, or goodwill; unauthorized access to data; injury or property damage; or third-party use of public information. If liability cannot be excluded, it is limited to the minimum amount permitted by law.
14. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless The Green Pins from any claims, liabilities, damages, or legal expenses arising from your use of the Service, your uploaded content, or your violation of these Terms.
15. Termination
We may suspend or terminate access at our discretion if these Terms are violated.
16. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of South Australia. Any disputes shall be resolved exclusively in the courts of South Australia.
17. Changes to Terms
We may update these Terms at any time. Continued use of the Service constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
Privacy Policy
Last Updated: February 2026
1. Overview
The Green Pins (“we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information.
2. Eligibility
The Service is intended for general audiences. Minors under 18 may use the service under parental supervision. We do not knowingly collect personal data directly from minors without parental consent.
Technical Data: IP address, Browser type, Device identifiers, Server logs.
Location Data: GPS coordinates (Latitude/Longitude), Metadata from uploaded photos.
Content Data (Public by Default):
Photos
Tree stories
Species information
Date planted
"Gifted By" dedications
Planter name/alias
Serial numbers
City/Country location
Tree location and content data are public by default.
4. How We Collect Data
We collect information when you create an account, upload trees, and through cookies, server logs, and analytics tools.
5. How We Use Data
We use your data to operate and maintain the Service, display public tree records, generate digital certificates, improve security, send service-related communications, and comply with legal obligations. We do not sell personal data.
6. Legal Basis (Where Applicable)
Where applicable under GDPR, we process data based on performance of a contract, legitimate interests, legal compliance, and user consent.
7. Data Sharing
We may share data with cloud hosting providers, analytics services, payment processors (if applicable), and legal authorities where required. Tree records are publicly accessible.
8. Cookies
We use cookies to maintain login sessions, improve performance, and analyze usage. You may disable cookies in your browser settings, though some features may not function properly.
9. Data Retention
We retain personal data while your account remains active. Inactive accounts may be deleted after prolonged inactivity. Tree records are intended as permanent archives unless you request deletion.
10. Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the right to access your data, correct inaccurate data, request deletion, or withdraw consent. To exercise your rights, contact plant@thegreenpins.com. We may verify your identity before processing requests.
11. International Transfers
Your data may be processed in Australia, the United States, or other jurisdictions with different data protection laws.
12. Security
We use SSL encryption, password hashing, and access controls. However, no system is completely secure.
13. Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, user data may be transferred subject to equivalent privacy protections.
14. Contact
For privacy inquiries, contact: plant@thegreenpins.com
